Roof Drain Cover Fairfield, AL

Roof Drains

There are several distinct types of roof water drains and roof drain cover in Fairfield, AL and each is a specific solution to the variety of roof styles and their drainage concerns. You must think about the kind of roof, its size, and its roof pitch to be able to choose the most suitable drain. You also should take into consideration the site of the drain, how much rainwater is expected and safety when selecting a roof drain for a residence or commercial building.

Gable, dormer, mansard and hip roofs shed water due to gravity. Flat roofs, on the other hand, accumulate rain water. Unless this water is routed out and away from the flat roof , it will develop pools of water that may inevitably leak and the accumulated weight may eventually cause compromising the integrity of the structure. That is the reason that roofs with a pitch of less than 2% should have roof drains situated in the lowest areas on the roof in which water pools and need to be uniformly spread throughout the roof top.

Roof Drain Types

There are a number of different variations of roof drains. They generally fall into 2 groups: flat roof drains and pitched roof drains. Pitched roof rainwater drains usually consist of gutters that accumulate rainwater which passes via gravity down to the roof edge. Gutters transport this water in the direction of downspouts which steer the water flow down and away from the structure or into sewer lines. Flat roof drains can be one of three primary types: scuppers, inner drains or siphonic drains.

Roof Rainwater Drain Scuppes

Scuppers are located on the roof's perimeter. They can also be placed on a balcony or terrace. Small openings are cut in the side of the roof structure so rain water can empty and drain the roof surface. Scuppers can connect to a downspout, or can be lengthened to make sure that water is directed off of the building sides and foundation.

Inner Roof Drains

There are many kinds of inner drains for flat roofs. They are positioned at low areas on the roof and attach to interior drainage pipes that route water outside or into a sewer system. Many models of internal roof drains have domes, strainers or covers which keep trash from obstructing the roof drain pipe. These kinds of drains operate via gravity channeling pooling water through the roof drain system. They can be made from PVC, cast iron or cast aluminum.

Siphonic Roof Drains

Siphonic roof drains are a more effective substitute for gravity drainage. Conventional flat roof drainage allows both air and water to go into the drain system creating pipe space occupied by both air and water. By incorporating an engineered baffle to the sump of the drain system it creates a siphonic drain which eliminates air from the system and allows for smaller pipe diameters . When all air is eliminated, a negative air pressure in the tail portion of the drain is set up which attracts water off the roof siphonically. Though used primarily for flat roofs, siphonic drains can also be installed on pitched roofs.

If you need more information about flat roof drain or roof drain cover in and around Fairfield, Alabama, give us a call. We'd be glad to help.